20 Best Hotels in Tokyo, Japan

This relative newcomer to the historical Asakusa area has a stylish flair that starts at the entrance, where an elevator whisks you up 13 floors to the beautiful, glass-walled lobby, and continues in guest rooms outfitted in deep, dark browns accented with jewel tones and the occasional mod touches. Rooms can feel a bit cramped, so, when you need more space, head to the open-air Terrace on the 14th floor, with a lovely view of the Tokyo Sky Tree. The bistro-style French restaurant serves pork and beef dishes and has an extensive drink selection. The Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate) is a short walk away, as are Senso-ji and a host of shopping options. Staff members are friendly and speak English.

Although the box-shaped Asakusa View is the largest Western-style hotel in the traditional Asakusa area, it isn't divorced from traditional culture—communal hinoki (Japanese-cypress) baths on the sixth floor overlook a Japanese garden. Rooms are basic, decorated in neutral tones, but single rooms can be small, starting at about 70 square feet. The suite rooms, on the 25th floor, have a view of the Senso-ji pagoda, the temple grounds, and the Tokyo Sky Tree tower. The hotel is a three-minute walk from the retro amusement park Hanayashiki.

While short-term guests can appreciate the amenities, the Citadines Shinjuku is also a bright bit of value for long-term travelers—a place where primary colors and attentive staffers greet you in the lobby, and guest rooms are cheerfully decorated and practically outfitted. If you spring for breakfast, you can fortify yourself with a wonderful continental-style spread before taking a stroll in the nearby Shinjuku Gyoen, a sprawling, landscaped garden. The nightlife scene here is also a draw. Note that it's easier to take a short taxi ride from Shinjuku Station than attempt to find the property from the nearest subway station.

Situated on the first four floors of the sleek Kyobashi Trust Tower, the Courtyard by Marriott is a convenient option for business travelers. The rooms are outfitted in tasteful beiges and browns, but they tend to be small (starting at 170 square feet); a Corner or Queen room is recommended for a little more space. Staff members are skilled in English and provide very attentive service. Though the Lavarock restaurant on the first floor offers a nice bistro menu, drinking and dining opportunities abound in the neighboring area, which includes Ginza. Unlike most hotels in Tokyo, the Courtyard has a smoke-free policy covering the entire building.

At this understated hotel not far from the West Exit of Shibuya Station, guest rooms are done in neutral tones and have interesting decor features and/or pops of bright color. Some rooms also have glass-enclosed baths with overhead showers. In addition to the on-site steakhouse, dining and drinking options include myriad neighborhood restaurants and bars.

At one of the closest properties to the Tokyo Disney Resort, lots of natural light shines through a vast atrium, and all the recently renovated rooms rooms have sizable windows with views of either Tokyo Disney or Tokyo Bay. Eating options are limited to the all-day dining spot Le Jardin, a Japanese restaurant, and for guests with access, quick bites and drinks in one of two executive lounges.

As soon as you enter the grand, extravagant lobby, you and your luggage will be immediately taken care of, and, although rooms are spacious, the real highlights are the bathrooms with luxurious sinks and bathtubs big enough for two. You'll be spoiled for choice at lunch and dinner by a host of highly rated restaurants. The Grill on 30th is notable for its nighttime view of Tokyo Bay and is also open for breakfast.

At this behemoth hotel, the lobby—where a staircase leads to a mezzanine floor and a bar-lounge—has a surprisingly human scale, and sizable guest rooms have soft, relaxing color schemes and such Japanese touches as the shoji screen, a constant since the hotel's opening in 1963. The hotel is what many people would expect of a property in a business center like Tokyo, but with views of its quieter areas.

With a facade that follows the curve of the Tokyo Bay shoreline, the 15-story Hilton Tokyo Odaiba presents itself as an "urban resort" with European style. Dark-wood chairs and golden ornaments adorn the second-floor lobby, where large windows overlook the waterfront. The spacious rooms have a balcony and are decorated in pale yellow and beige textiles; select suites have whirlpool tubs. The Captain's Bar serves a large selection of whiskey and brandy. Access to the city center from here is cumbersome, but a boardwalk connects the hotel to a small park, an amusement area, and shopping destinations.

A wonderful location—atop the 35-floor Odakyu Southern Tower, minutes on foot from Shinjuku Station—and several on-site dining options are the main draws at this hotel. The 20th-floor lobby, with its wooden floors, is a relaxing perch from which to take in the beautiful views. Rooms, though basic, are pleasantly outfitted in light-wood furnishings and sizable writing desks suitable for the business traveler. The hotel is directly connected to plenty of shopping and entertainment options.

With a giant Godzilla head on the eighth-floor lobby terrace and one special guest room with movie posters, a rubber monster suit, and a giant claw emerging from a headboard, the Gracery is a good choice for fans of the silver screen's top prehistoric creature. A word of warning: while the hotel is clean, and the staff is friendly, it is located in a red-light district.

Traditional and contemporary elements come together to make the Niwa Tokyo a prized little boutique hotel in the middle of the city. A small rock pond and massive paper lantern in the high-ceiling lobby welcome guests. Rooms are small (starting at 60 square feet) yet contain charming Japanese touches, such as shoji screens and carpeting made to look like tatami. The property is within minutes of Tokyo Dome, so catching the Giants during the baseball season is a snap.

Snuggled amid the skyscrapers of Shinjuku, this hotel has Hyatt's trademark, atrium-style lobby—seven stories high, with glass elevators soaring upward—and as well as rooms that are spacious rooms, if somewhat unremarkable in design. Splurge for the club access deluxe rooms, which include breakfast, tea service, and other perks to go with your even-more-spacious room. Tocho-mae Station, beneath the hotel, allows swift access to the nightlife in Roppongi and Shiodome's business towers, but it's quite deep, so you might find that Shinjuku Station is an easier connector. The nearby park is great for a jog or a stroll and for watching people walk their dogs.

Although some areas of this hotel are nondescript, it has a remarkable variety of contemporary accommodations, including fully accessible rooms and those with as many as four beds. It also has an impressive gym with city views and a seasonally open outdoor pool so you can swim among the skyscrapers.

Situated as it is on the upper 11 floors of the Marunouchi Oazo Building, with an underground walkway connected to Tokyo Station, this hotel offers both a convenient location and views of the city lights, which illuminate the quiet neutral hues and high ceilings in the guest rooms. Among the dining selections are Daian Club, featuring Wagyu beef, and the French restaurant pomme d'Adam, which specializes in dishes prepared with seasonal ingredients. If you need other options, a multitude of restaurants await in nearby skyscrapers.

Both chic and reasonable, this hotel occupies the top nine floors of the 24-story Ginza Mitsui Building in a convenient location at the edge of the bustling neighborhood. Guest rooms have a soft modern style, incorporating earth tones with dashes of forest green. Little luxuries include cozy bedding and free Wi-Fi; View rooms offer city views from their bathrooms. Another great spot to take in the skyline? The Karin cocktail bar and E'Volta restaurant. Both are on the 16th floor and have wonderful panoramas of Tokyo.

Smack in the center of Ginza, this hotel was created in 2019 by budget Japanese retailer Muji, a company known for its natural toned, minimalist approach to interiors and fashion. That characteristic aesthetic runs through all of the smart, but compact singles and doubles, as well as the on-site library, bar, bakery, and Japanese restaurant. If you want to shop, the lower floors of the hotel's building house Muji's Ginza flagship store.

The surrounding parkland and the absence of any adjacent structures make the Park Tower a peaceful urban retreat, where a vertically impressive atrium lobby, with two glass elevators, gives a clear look into the building's hollow core. Guest rooms are somewhat generic but roomy for the price, with the corner doubles and twins being the most desirable, as they have the best views. Guests staying on the Premium Club Floor have free use of the lounge and spa and fitness facilities, and receive complimentary breakfast. Bathrooms with jetted tubs and separate full-stall showers are nice, modern touches. The Sky Lounge Stellar Garden on the 33rd floor offers cocktails and supreme night views of Tokyo Tower.

Location is key to this otherwise unremarkable hotel in the towering Mark City complex—not only does the Narita Express depart from nearby Shibuya Station regularly but the Shinjuku neighborhood is just a five-minute train ride north, and there are plenty of shops and affordable restaurants outside the door. Guest rooms are plain but comfortable. For families the extra space in the larger rooms is worth the higher prices. North-facing rooms on the 10th floor and above (including the ladies-only floor on level 20) have views of the Shinjuku skyline. Two restaurants on the top floor also offer excellent views.